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At the inaugural Scottish Labour leadership hustings held in Glasgow, the three candidates vying to replace Anas Sarwar emphasized the critical need to overcome internal divisions within the party. Monica Lennon, Joe Fagan, and Michael Marra each presented their vision for revitalizing Scottish Labour following its devastating performance in May’s Holyrood election. Despite interruptions from a small group of pro-Palestine demonstrators outside, all contenders expressed a shared commitment to rebuilding and unifying the party after its worst electoral showing since the establishment of devolution.
Labour’s May election results saw it finish tied for second place with Reform Scotland, both securing 17 seats. Initially, Sarwar intended to remain in his position following the election, but his decision to step down came two months later when he accepted a role in Andy Burnham’s government. This triggered the present leadership contest, with nominations closing on 17 August and party members set to vote between 28 August and 17 September.
During the hustings, Monica Lennon described the party as facing its “worst ever crisis,” urging a break from the past failures that led to electoral loss. She insisted the party must become electable again by embracing new leadership marked by vision and empathy. As an MSP who re-entered Holyrood after Sarwar’s seat became vacant, Lennon stressed that Scottish Labour cannot afford to “sleepwalk into electoral oblivion” and called for the party to wake from its “coma,” warning against “factionalism, dirty tricks and smears.” She declared herself unwilling to be “bullied” by those prioritizing control over principles.
Michael Marra took aim at “negative cowardly briefings” damaging the party’s prospects. He criticized Scottish Labour’s failure to anticipate its election defeat and underscored the need for a cultural overhaul, rather than superficial structural changes. Marra highlighted the party’s responsibility to “renew” itself and “rediscover its moral purpose,” stressing that the leadership race should select the candidate best equipped to unite the party and energize its supporters. He cautioned that failing to change would result in another crushing defeat in five years.
Joe Fagan echoed calls for significant transformation, insisting that the party must do more than simply alter its leadership. He spoke of the necessity for Scottish Labour to boldly champion the working people of the country and rebuild itself as a movement grounded in community concerns. Fagan warned against “caution and division,” which he described as “deadly enemies,” advocating instead for “boldness, courage and unity” as the pathway forward. Reiterating the need to “learn to win again,” he emphasized the party’s success historically stemmed from its connection to communities and genuine attention to people’s lives. The announcement of the new leader is scheduled for 19 September
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